Each year, about one-third of Americans have at least one panic attack, making anxiety disorders among the most common emotional problems. They affect approximately 19 million Americans, more than those suffering from depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or alcohol abuse. This indispensable guide separates fact from fiction to empower people to regain control over their minds and their lives.

Joni E. Johnston, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist in Del Mar, California, and CEO of WorkRelationships, which helps companies build healthy work relationships. She writes a monthly column for LexisNexis and is a noted public speaker. She is the author of Idiot's Guides: Psychology and Appearance Obsession: Learning to Love the Way You Look, and winner of numerous media awards for her translation of psychological research into consumer-friendly television and print information. Author home: Del Mar, California. O. Joseph Bienvenu, MD, PhD, is an associate professor and Director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic and the Johns Hopkins Residents' Outpatient Clinic. He is Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Hospital General Hospital Psychiatry Consultation-Liaison Service. Dr. Bienvenu's research has focused on the relationship between general personality traits and anxiety and depressive disorders.